ORIGINS
Indian Arrival Day, celebrated on 30th May, commemorates the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers from India to Trinidad, in May 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack. The Fatel Razack brought not only a new labour force to assist in the economic development of Trinidad, but also a new people with a new culture.
While this momentous event has been celebrated among the East Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago for many years, it was not until 1994 that it was made an official public holiday. It was called Arrival Day. In 1995, it was re-named Indian Arrival Day. On 30th May each year, Indian Arrival Day commemorates this momentous event by staging a re-enactment of the arrival of the Fatel Razack at various beaches throughout Trinidad and Tobago. There is also music and dance, and outstanding members of the community are honoured for their contributions to society.
Indian Immigration to Trinidad spanned the period 1845-1917. During this period over 140,000 Indians were transported to the island. The journey was long and arduous and living conditions were deplorable. After disembarking at Nelson Island, the arrivals were fed and rested for a couple weeks and then sent to the various estates that had requested them previously.
CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS
The East Indians brought to Trinidad a wide range of festivals and religious observances. For East Indians - both Hindus and Muslims - these celebrations were important. They allowed the immigrants to hold on to the values and principles which had sustained them for centuries. They also served to make the harsh daily life more bearable. Events such as Divali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Phagwa and Hoosay have, over the years, become part of the cultural fabric of Trinidad and Tobago.
East Indians who came to the Caribbean initially came from various regions in India, each with its own language and customs. However, by the late 19th century there was less diversity in language as the majority of immigrants originated from Uttar Pradesh. The inhabitants of this region spoke Bhojpuri, a Hindi dialect, which became the shared and unifying language for East Indians in Trinidad.
The indentured labourers brought not only their religion, food and clothing, but also the names of the places from which they came. They gave to the places they settled in Trinidad, the place names with which they were familiar. Hence the reason for village names such as Fyzabad, Barrackpore, Chandernagore, and many others.
One ancient practice which has recently become a western phenomenon is the Mehndi (or Henna) which is the ancient art of body tattooing. Mehndi powder is made out of dried leaves from a shrub. Traditionally, mehndi is used to decorate the hands and feet of a new bride.
Family and community were very important to the immigrants. They brought the panchayat system which was a way of dealing with with inter-communal conflicts and family problems. They also continued their naming convention of family members. Below is a sample list of Hindu and Muslim names and their meanings.
Aruna - Dawn
Chandra - Moon
Indira - Lakshmi
Indrani - Wife of Indra
Lalita - Variety, Beauty
Madhuri - Sweet Girl
Mohini - Most beautiful, Bewitching
Prema - Love
Shanti - Peace
Avinash - Endless, Boundless
Hemaraj - King of Gold
Manoj - Born of Mind
Mohan - Charming, Fascinating
Prakash - Light
Rajesh - God of Kings
Saurav - Divine, Celestial
Sundar - Beautiful
Vijay - Victory
Alia, Aalia - Exalted
Aneesa - Friendly
Fareeda - Unique
Fatima - Name of the Prophet Muhammad's Daughter
Kaamla - Perfect
Nadia - The Beginning, First
Nadira - Rare, Precious
Rasheeda - Wise, Mature
Saleema - Safe, Healthy
Yasmeen - Jasmine
Zahraa - White
Ali - Excellent
Hamza - Lion
Hassan - Beautiful
Jamal - Beauty
Kareem - Generous, Noble
Khalid - Eternal
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